Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi S. Lorenzo-Ravera 2009

Redcurrant, sour cherry, violet and marzipan on a nose lifted by a trace of smoky oak. In the mouth it's silky and perfumed, graceful rather than powerful, though the wine stays tight and inward, still not fully open despite the warmth of the vintage. The 2009 richness is there, but good definition and an inner-mouth fragrance keep it from feeling heavy. Marta Rinaldi calls this the family's most feminine Barolo, and it reads that way: the sandier soils, cooler southeast-facing aspect, and proximity to the woods all push toward freshness and lift rather than concentration. Worth cellaring for at least another decade.